Reoperation and complications after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion and cervical disc arthroplasty: a study of 52,395 cases

• Published in: European spine journal 2018-06, Vol.27 (6), p.1432-1439
• Main Authors: Kelly, Michael P., Eliasberg, Claire D., Riley, Max S., Ajiboye, Remi M., SooHoo, Nelson F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Arthroplasty; Arthroplasty - adverse effects; Arthroplasty - statistics & numerical data; Bone surgery; Cervical Vertebrae - surgery; Degenerative disc disease; Diskectomy - adverse effects; Diskectomy - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Intervertebral Disc - surgery; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration; Intervertebral discs; Joint surgery; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Neurosurgery; Original Article; Postoperative Complications - epidemiology; Reoperation - statistics & numerical data; Retrospective Studies; Risk factors; Spinal Fusion - adverse effects; Spinal Fusion - statistics & numerical data; Spine (cervical); Surgery; Surgical Orthopedics; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0940-6719; 1432-0932
• DOI: 10.1007/s00586-018-5570-8

Purpose The aim of this study was to analyze rates of perioperative complications and subsequent cervical surgeries in patients treated for cervical degenerative disc disease with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and those treated with artificial cervical disc arthroplasty (ACDA) for up to 5-year follow-up. Methods California’s Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development discharge database was analyzed for patients aged 18–65 years undergoing single-level ACDF or ACDA between 2003 and 2010. Medical comorbidities were identified with CMS-Condition Categories. Readmissions for short-term complications of the procedure were identified and rates of subsequent cervical surgeries were calculated at 90-day and 1-, 3-, and 5-year follow-up. Multivariate regression modeling was used to identify associations with complications and subsequent cervical surgeries correcting for patient and provider characteristics. Results A total of 52,395 eligible cases were identified: 50,926 ACDF and 1469 ACDA. Readmission was less common in the ACDA group (OR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.48–1.0, p  = 0.048). Subsequent cervical spine surgery was more common in the ACDF group in the immediate perioperative period (within 90 days of surgery) (ACDF 3.35% vs. ACDA 2.04%, OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.44-0.92, p  = 0.015). At 1-, 3-, and 5-year postoperatively, rates of subsequent cervical surgeries were similar between the two cohorts. Conclusions We found no protective benefit for ACDA versus ACDF for single-level disease at up to 5-year follow-up in the largest cohort of patients examined to date. Early complications were rare in both cohorts stressing the value of large cohort studies to study risk factors for rare events. Graphical abstract These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.